Council ponders future use of ‘The Denver House’ and land

The large building named “The Denver House” at 240 Main St. is for sale — and REAL Life Community Services would like to be the buyer of the structure and the nearly two acres to its rear.

Denver Mayor Rodney Redcay, who leads REAL Life Community Services, presented his organization’s proposal to Denver Council at its Monday, March 28, meeting.

Photo by Alice HummerThe Denver House at 240 Main St. is on the sale block.

“We all know there’s a need for affordable apartment housing in the area,” said Redcay. We propose using the upper floor of the building for eight to 12 affordable apartments.

“Currently there’s an apartment on the first floor which we’d convert to a handicapped apartment. The first floor would also house medical and dental services, professional counselors, and other services. These services are intended to serve the public, not just the residents of the building.

He also asked for ideas for the land.

“The two acres behind the building we really have no use for,” Redcay said. “I’d be more than open for the community of Denver to acquire that land and use it for a type of park land site or perhaps additional downtown parking.”

This is not the first time the two acres have been eyed.

“We did approach Mountain Top Associates Inc., owners of The Denver House, about purchasing that land previously,”said Denver Borough Manager Mike Hession. “We offered $50,000 for the two acres and at that time the owners weren’t interested in selling it. We wanted to clean up the area and do something with it for the community.”

The land not needed by REAL Life Community Services extends behind its next-door neighbor, a Turkey Hill Minit Market, and abuts the flood plain. Several residents in the audience spoke to the need for additional downtown parking spaces. Hession said while it’s possible to use portions of the land in question for parking it will need to be the type of macadam that permits water to drain.

Councilman Jason South brainstormed the idea to have metered parking if the borough would acquire the land. Hession said metered parking could enable people to park for two hours.

Other council members questioned the zoning requirements regarding parking spaces needed for apartments and the current scarcity of spaces. Redcay said parking is a valid issue and REAL Life Community Services is working on it.

Councilman Mike Gensemer said that council has always tried to develop the downtown district for retail businesses. Restaurant owners in Denver always mention the issue of not enough parking, he said.

“We denied a developer putting apartments in the old Weave building because it didn’t fit the downtown business district zoning,” Gensemer said. “Now we’re considering apartments in this downtown building? I think you have a good heart and I’m not sure that the apartments are in the right place.”

Redcay responded to him.

“The intent of the social service hub on the first floor will be to guide families in need to organizations that provide those resources as well as providing some services at the site,” he said. “The services are not going to duplicate or compete for services with existing service agencies and programs. A full-time social worker will provide the connection to organizations like Ephrata Area Social Services, Peter’s Porch, Community Meals, Acts of Love Summer Lunch Program, and the Power Packs Project.”

“We’ve put a bid in for the property,” said Redcay. “The bank is in the process of completing an appraisal. It’s a possibility that we could acquire the building and sell the property in back to the community at the same meeting.”

This marked the first time council heard a presentation about the Denver House Collective Impact Project. No decisions were made regarding possible purchase of the land at the back of it. Redcay thanked council members for their time and consideration.

In other business:

* Andy Boyer, borough emergency management coordinator, received a round of applause for his service to the borough. He resigned his emergency management coordinator position. Hession said he’s talked with the Denver Volunteer Fire Company’s chief to ask if any of their qualified volunteers might be interested. There’s been no response to date.

* Council representatives met with PPL executives Thursday, March 24. Members will prepare a letter to PPL identifying specifically what they’d like to keep and a fair market purchase price proposal. PPL continues appearing to use tactics which stall progress of Denver’s street light privatization, they contend. Denver has worked on this project for two years and must meet deadlines to use a $227,405 grant the borough won to help fund this project.

* Council adopted an ordinance requiring all persons, partnerships, businesses, and corporations to obtain a permit for any construction or development; providing for the issuance of such permits; setting certain minimum requirements for new construction and development within areas of the borough of Denver which are subject to flooding; and establishing penalties for any persons who fail, or refuse to comply with the ordinance requirements.

* Council approved the recreation board’s recommendation to raise the pool rates $5. A family pass will be $155, which is the lowest in the area. Daily rates and daily group rates remain the same. West Cocalico residents may continue to join the Denver Pool at the Denver resident rate.

The pool opens Memorial Day weekend and the following weekend, and then on the last day of school for the Cocalico School District through Aug. 28.

The meeting, chaired by Vice President Chris Flory, recessed into executive session to discuss various personnel issues, including new collective bargaining agreement proposals.